Foothills Sentry May 2021

Page 3 Foothills Sentry May 2021 7540 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 92869 (714) 639-9792 MEAT&DELI, PRODUCE, BAKERY, FRESH FISH, GIFT BASKETS, WINE MON-SAT: 8am - 9pmSUN: 8am - 8pm www.Paci�icRanchMarket.com $ OFF Excluding alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid only at Paci ic Ranch Market. When You Spend $25 or More * EXPIRES: 5/31/21 5 OC’s Premier ProduceMarket RANGE BL SSOMS Orange Orange 15% OFF AT 23 LOCAL RESTAURANTS & BREWERIES MAY 1 – MAY 31, 2021 PURCHASE AT TASTEOFORANGE.ORG Orange Blossoms are always accepting new members. To learn more, visit our website at orangeblossomsalo.org. Nonprofit #95-6101256 $15 PER PASSPORT See "VP" continued from page 1 M S International, Inc., in conjunction with the Orange Senior Center, donated 100 refurbished iPads to help seniors transition and connect during the pandemic. MSI volunteers will conduct seminars for the seniors to help them use the iPads. From left are MSI's Dayana Peguero, Senior Center Executive Director Katherine Connaghan, MSI's Rika Shah, Manu Shah and Reggy Soenarso. Photo by Bhavik Muni Zimmerman. Changing zoning restrictions for properties or open space “will not be reversible,” he said. “We are on a slippery slope.” Councilman Vince Rossini was of a different mindset, indicating that this natural space is “not a tremendous value.” Proceed with caution Though it is not required that these housing units be built, Zimmerman emphasized that a thoughtful, considered approach is necessary to retain the city’s small-town, rural character and ambiance for future generations. Collacott agreed, “We don’t want to disrupt neighborhoods.” Should zoning restrictions be altered or open space become available, the possibility of homeowners or developer(s) building out is likely. It was noted that permits for eight ADUs had been issued already this year, as compared to a total of six to eight in all of 2020. Input from the community is requested; the next public meet- ing will be held on May 11, be- ginning at 5:30 p.m. City Manag- er Steve Franks indicated a mail- ing will go out to all residents. For more information, see vil- lapark.org . City of Villa Park HOUSING ELEMENT TOWN HALL MEETING 5 makes sense is the runner-up John Russo. Don’t appoint someone who never received a single vote. If you do, it could result in a re- call. I urge the council to respect District 3 voters.” District 3 voter Michael Mc- Issac is one of two citizens who filed a legal challenge to Alva- rez’s run for office. Term limits, he said, could not have been a more straightforward ordinance. “The blame lands on the city’s legal council. Citizens assume all candidates on the ballot are qualified. You might favor an ap- pointment as more expedient and cheaper, but democracy is not free. A special election will cost less than the city attorney’s base salary.” The fault line Chip Monaco took exception to McIssacs’ comments. “The coun- cil is not here to determine who can’t run. Any other candidate could have challenged Alvarez, but not one stepped forward. I’m not sure it’s legal counsel’s job to determine the status of candi- dates. There’s responsibility on the other candidates.” Kim Nichols also defended the council’s inaction. “Nobody chal- lenged Mike Alvarez. It was the opinion of a judge that it’s a le- gal matter. Not the city council. Not the city attorney. There was a reasonable belief that he could run.” It was clear during the coun- cil discussion that members Ana Gutierrez and Arianna Barrios fa- vored an election. Councilmem- bers Jon Dumitru, Monaco and Mayor Mark Murphy did not want to spend $150,000 on an election. “I’m open to either op- tion,” Monaco said, “ but spend- ing $150,000 is inefficient.” Nichols admitted that she was torn, that she was a “strong advo- cate for voters.” But, she pointed out, “statistically people don’t turn out for special elections. The last two special elections in the county drew only 19% and 13% of voters,“ she advised. Don’t follow the money It was noted that if a vote on the District 3 seat were to be deferred until the already-scheduled No- vember 2022 election, it would not cost the city any additional money. “So,” Dumitru summa- rized, “there’s no cost to an ap- pointment and no cost to the 2022 election.” Barrios brought up a memo from the city manager advising the council that the city was due to receive $14.5 million in relief funding from the federal govern- ment before July 1. “The city is not bleeding money,” she as- serted. “When there was a vacant seat in 2019,” Barrios reminded her colleagues, "Mayor Murphy stated you ‘can’t put a price on democracy.’ Nichols said that the 'investment of city funds is ap- propriate to support democracy;’ Monaco pointed out that democ- racy is ‘costly and messy.’ What changed?” she queried. “I don’t believe the city is going to be made whole by the federal government,” Mayor Murphy countered. “And I don’t want to spend $150,000 on an election that would add just 12 months to the term.” If we hold an election, he explained, the winner will serve until 2024 (36 months). If we appoint someone, they’ll serve until 2022, and then the voters can choose them, or someone else, for a two-year term, until 2024. The difference is 12 months. An idea! “I’m of a mind that we should consider appointing someone this evening,” he declared. “I motion to appoint Kathryn Tavoularis. Do I have a second?” Chip Monaco seconded. “Any discussion?” Murphy asked. There was. Ana Gutierrez re- stated that District 3 should be allowed to make that choice. “I think,” she added, “that council members and city staff should protect the city and its best inter- ests.” Arianna Barrios said the dis- trict should at least be part of the process. She suggested an alter- nate motion to postpone the de- cision to give voters a chance to meet the top applicants in a forum setting. Nichols joined her and Gutierrez in a “yes” to the post- ponement, but three votes is not a majority on a six-person council. Murphy added a few words about Tavoularis’ involvement in the city and her work experience. There was no further discussion, no suggestions to consider any of the other applicants. Dumitru, Monaco, Nichols and Murphy said “yes” to Talouvaris. Barrios and Gutierrez voted “no.” See "Orange Voters" continued from page 1 Rezoning the 22 acres owned by OCWD, allowing the green space to be developed, is an option to be discussed. Tuesday ~ May 11 5:30 p.m. In-Person or Zoom VillaPark.org Rezoning Wanda Road is one option to create additional housing units.